Cream thread on dark brown fabric
 

OK, so I know this is generally just a matter of opinion combined with how decently you can actually quilt, which for me is not very ... But anyway I am working on a quilt that has mostly light yellow and green colors in the main part and a dark brown border. I picked a cream colored thread to quilt with because I thought it would match the main part of the quilt, which it does, but I am doing a bishop's fan pattern that just goes from one border to the other across the whole quilt and now that I'm taking a step back from it I really don't like the way that cream thread looks on the dark brown.

So I don't know, I might just live with it but if I change my mind ...

Say I wanted to pull out just the thread on the borders and then replace it with a matching brown thread. Could that be done or would I have to worry about the rest of the thread coming undone after I rip back?

Do I have any other options besides just living with what I've already done? I actually got through about three quarters of the quilting before I formed this opinion.

Thank you in advance!

Becki

If it's machine quilting, you would have to be sure to leave enough on the ends to be able to hand knot and hide the ends. Leah Day has an excellent tute on her site that makes this easier by using a side-threading needle.

Personally, what I would probably do is find a Sharpie permanent marker in brown and simply hand color the thread dark brown in those areas.

Excellent idea! Yet another use for sharpies!

I agree with Prism99---just color the thread- i am assuming you have never (un-sewn) a quiled piece----it is quite a job! i had some tension problems one time on a quilt just over a 9" by width of quilt space---it took almost 7 hours to remove all of that quilting! i learned right then to ALWAYS check to make sure everything is going well top and bottom everytime i change a bobbin- or stop for any time- i check within a few inches...
but your (problem) is a much easier fix---it is easy to color the threads any color you choose. :)

I just purchased the Crayola Fabric markers to 'fix' a small block that didn't have enough contrast in one small part. I haven't done it yet. The directs say that the coloring should be heat set with a dry iron for 4 mins or in the dryer for 30 mins.

There's another option, and that is to wait for a few days and look at it again. You may find that it no longer bothers you and you like seeing the lighter stitches against the brown.

I agree. Don't do anything until you've walked away from it for a day or two. Then when you look at it again, take in the whole quilt with your eyes don't immediately look at the border. Another thing to try is look thru a pair of binoculars backwards or go to the hardware store and get a peep hole insert for a door to look through. These will provide a distance view if you don't have room to lay it out and stand back a good distance to view the whole quilt

I have so done this. Thought I was cheating something terrible - but if it's a good match - it sure does work. It doesn't wash out either. Just remember thread can roll so cover it well. It's time consuming, but it really works well.

I actually thought about this but rejected the idea because I was afraid that the marker color would be hard to apply accurately. I didn't want to end up with maker on the fabric as well as just on the thread. For those of you who have done this is it hard?

No harder than tryjng to color within the lines.....seriously, it's a whole lot easier that frogging that quilt...:)

No harder than tryjng to color within the lines.....seriously, it's a whole lot easier that frogging that quilt...:)

Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. After I finished the quilt I put it aside for a couple of days as suggested, but found I still wasn't crazy about that cream thread on the brown border. So I got a sharpie and colored the thread. It was like magic! Now I love the quilt and it looks great! Thanks again!!!

Glad it worked out for you!